Jonathan Edward Colby (Brennand)
Artistic Executive Director, Worcester Youth Orchestras
Music Director & Conductor, Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra
Born and raised in Middlesex, England, Jonathan Colby's conducting has been praised by the Cape Cod Times for its "precision and vitality." In 2017, he was presented the Key to the City of Worcester by Mayor Joseph Petty at WYO's 70th Season Opener.
He enters his 11th season with Worcester Youth Orchestras, serving as WYO Artistic Director and Conductor of the 70-member Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra, and directs the elite chamber Baroque Orchestra. He also oversees the Preparatory Division and Orchestras, and Honors Chamber Music Program. In four years he has grown the Worcester Youth Orchestras from one ensemble to five; founding the Baroque Orchestra in 2014, and the Flute & Clarinet Choirs in 2015 as well as the Honors Program, and the Jazz and Wind Ensemble program in 2016.
In August 2013 he was awarded the WISE Foundation's Conductor of the Year Award for his music direction and conducting of Die Fledermaus at College Light Opera Company, which the Cape Cod Time described as "dynamic" and full of "technical prowess". Jonathan has been a member of College Light Opera Company for the past eleven seasons, starting as a violinist in the orchestra and then as Associate Conductor. In 2010 he was appointed a Principal Conductor and Music Director, conducting three productions every season. At College Light Opera he has garnered much praise from critics on his "commendable music direction" (Barnstable Patriot) and "inspired" (Cape Cod Times) interpretations of European and American operetta as well as classic American Musical Theater. In 2010, he was awarded a grant from the Victor Herbert Foundation to restore the entire score of the composer's comic opera Naughty Marietta.
In addition he is founding Director and Conductor of the Pioneer Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra, and served for three seasons, stepping down in May 2016. In demand as a guest conductor and clinician he has conducted various MMEA festival orchestras, led performances of Mahler 4 at SUNY Purchase and NYC Opera Center with the Route 9 Ensemble. He has also worked with the Commonwealth Lyric Opera and Lucky Ten Studios, Ip Piano School Annual Concerto Competition series, Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Symphony Orchestra.
In May 2014, he was appointed Music Director & Conductor of the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra after a year long audition process. He is the second conductor in the orchestra's 34-year history. The 90-member symphony performs 6 or more times in and around the Farmington Valley, including a popular June Lawn Pops concert at Miss Porter's School.
Prior study was an apprenticeship in Salzburg and Vienna under the tutelage of Heinz Ferlesch, BA in Music and History from Drew University and an MM in Orchestral Conducting from UMass Amherst.
Jonathan is a member of the Conductors Guild and League of American Orchestras where he serves on the Board of Directors for the Youth Orchestra Division. In addition, he serves on scholarship committees for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
Visit, www.jonathanbrennand.com, for more information.
Email Mr. Colby
Appointed August 2012
Music Director & Conductor, Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra
Born and raised in Middlesex, England, Jonathan Colby's conducting has been praised by the Cape Cod Times for its "precision and vitality." In 2017, he was presented the Key to the City of Worcester by Mayor Joseph Petty at WYO's 70th Season Opener.
He enters his 11th season with Worcester Youth Orchestras, serving as WYO Artistic Director and Conductor of the 70-member Worcester Youth Symphony Orchestra, and directs the elite chamber Baroque Orchestra. He also oversees the Preparatory Division and Orchestras, and Honors Chamber Music Program. In four years he has grown the Worcester Youth Orchestras from one ensemble to five; founding the Baroque Orchestra in 2014, and the Flute & Clarinet Choirs in 2015 as well as the Honors Program, and the Jazz and Wind Ensemble program in 2016.
In August 2013 he was awarded the WISE Foundation's Conductor of the Year Award for his music direction and conducting of Die Fledermaus at College Light Opera Company, which the Cape Cod Time described as "dynamic" and full of "technical prowess". Jonathan has been a member of College Light Opera Company for the past eleven seasons, starting as a violinist in the orchestra and then as Associate Conductor. In 2010 he was appointed a Principal Conductor and Music Director, conducting three productions every season. At College Light Opera he has garnered much praise from critics on his "commendable music direction" (Barnstable Patriot) and "inspired" (Cape Cod Times) interpretations of European and American operetta as well as classic American Musical Theater. In 2010, he was awarded a grant from the Victor Herbert Foundation to restore the entire score of the composer's comic opera Naughty Marietta.
In addition he is founding Director and Conductor of the Pioneer Valley Symphony Youth Orchestra, and served for three seasons, stepping down in May 2016. In demand as a guest conductor and clinician he has conducted various MMEA festival orchestras, led performances of Mahler 4 at SUNY Purchase and NYC Opera Center with the Route 9 Ensemble. He has also worked with the Commonwealth Lyric Opera and Lucky Ten Studios, Ip Piano School Annual Concerto Competition series, Connecticut Valley Symphony Orchestra and Manchester Symphony Orchestra.
In May 2014, he was appointed Music Director & Conductor of the Farmington Valley Symphony Orchestra after a year long audition process. He is the second conductor in the orchestra's 34-year history. The 90-member symphony performs 6 or more times in and around the Farmington Valley, including a popular June Lawn Pops concert at Miss Porter's School.
Prior study was an apprenticeship in Salzburg and Vienna under the tutelage of Heinz Ferlesch, BA in Music and History from Drew University and an MM in Orchestral Conducting from UMass Amherst.
Jonathan is a member of the Conductors Guild and League of American Orchestras where he serves on the Board of Directors for the Youth Orchestra Division. In addition, he serves on scholarship committees for the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.
Visit, www.jonathanbrennand.com, for more information.
Email Mr. Colby
Appointed August 2012
